Cost Estimator Salary in St. Louis, MO
Cost Estimators in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $78,730 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,454 take-home, or $5,121 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,491
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,881
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,142
- Missouri income tax$2,763
- Take-home pay$61,454
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $787 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $60,666 ($5,056 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cost Estimator pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,990 | $21.63 | $37,152 | $3,096 |
| 25th percentile | $59,990 | $28.84 | $48,500 | $4,042 |
| Median (50th) | $78,730 | $37.85 | $61,454 | $5,121 |
| 75th percentile | $103,290 | $49.66 | $77,577 | $6,465 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,680 | $62.83 | $95,381 | $7,948 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,730 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $61,454 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,628 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Louis, MO has 1.6× the national concentration of cost estimator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #5 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $94,490 | $75,304 | $67,760 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $89,820 | $68,775 | $65,015 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $78,200 | $63,844 | $64,731 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $78,730 | $61,454 | $64,628 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $101,630 | $73,784 | $63,819 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $82,870 | $63,451 | $63,414 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $77,990 | $61,093 | $62,757 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
About the job: cost estimators
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.1% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in St. Louis, MO?
The median cost estimator salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $78,730 a year, or about $37.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,990 and $103,290.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $78,730 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $61,454 a year ($5,121 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,763 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,628 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #5 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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